Let's say you find yourself suddenly realizing that a friend, family member, or acquaintance's birthday is coming up faster than you thought. In fact, it totally caught you off guard. And now, you want to find a gift basket to celebrate the occasion.

If time is of the essence, you are going to want to come up with something fast. And, you do not want to forego giving them a great gift just because you were a bit late in taking notice of the upcoming birthday. After all, who wants a last minute gift that looks last minute?

Better not to give anything at all.

But why choose a gift basket as your preferred gift? Gift baskets are probably one of the most versatile, well-received gifts you can give someone. There is practically no limit to the number of variations on the theme. Your choice of the theme is only limited by your own imagination.

Whether you are a big spender or have very little to spare on getting them a gift, the following 5 last minute gift basket ideas will help you get just the right thing:

1. Make your own uniquely-themed gift bag or basket:
When in doubt, make your own! That's right: a homemade gift basket gives you the ability to literally create the ideal, custom-made gift. If you choose to go this route, make sure to start by concentrating on what their interests and likes are. Make your gift reflective of this theme.

2. If you are on a strict budget, pay a visit to the dollar store (no, really):
Okay, so buying the contents for your basket at a dollar store may feel like the cheapest thing you could do. And, what if the recipient found out about it - oh, the horror! But, before you kiss off this idea as being unrealistic, think again: the dollar store has a whole bunch of really cool items. Your job is just to select 5-20 or so of them and put together a meaningful basket.

3. For him, how about an auto maintenance-themed basket:
If you are looking for a gift for a man, here is an idea: put one together that contains auto maintenance items like a quart of oil, car wax, polish, air fresheners, and the like. It is very practical and he will love it.

4. For her, how about a personal safety-themed gift:
If you are shopping for a woman, how about putting together some personal safety items? Some things you could include: a personal safety horn, small flashlight, cell phone charger, flares for the road, and a first aid kit.

5. For either sex, consider a personal organizer gift basket:
For a man or a woman, another great idea is to get them something that will help them stay organized in their daily lives. Even if the person you know stores their whole life on the computer, there is still very much a place today for physical organizer goods such as calendars, post-it notes, highlighter pens, and the like. Make a trip to your local office store and help them get their lives a bit more organized.

Consider these 5 ideas as you find the perfect present for him or her.